All roads lead to Klerksdorp as tourism stakeholders gather to mark World Tourism Day tomorrow.

The province was chosen as this year’s host province and build-up activities to the big day started with a student seminar in Potchefstroom yesterday.

World Tourism Day is commemorated under the auspices of the UN World Tourism Organisation annually, to celebrate the socio-economic milestones of tourism under a particular theme.

This year’s activities will focus around tourism and water, and protecting our common future and comes as a result of the UN declaration of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation.

Provincial economic development and tourism spokesperson Dumisa Seshabela said the event seeks to address environmental sustainability.

“Environmental sustainability is one of the millennium development goals and water is a major resource towards this.

“Besides the fun aspect water provides, activities lined up will also highlight the tourism sector’s responsibility to the wider sustainability objectives.

“This sector uses a significant amount of water and the idea is to encourage all South Africans and tourism stakeholders to play a role in contributing to responsible water use through the implementation of responsible tourism practices and fostering water conservation,” Seshabela said.

She added that the student seminar that took place this week targeted final year and postgraduate students from various universities to present their research findings on tourism-related topics.

“Today, Minister for Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk will host a business breakfast event with the provincial tourism industry players to engage on how the tourism sector can remain competitive and sustainable through the implementation of sustainable water management practices.

“This will be followed by a public lecture the minister will deliver in Klerksdorp later in the day. The subject of the lecture is informed by this year’s theme,” Seshabela said.

The main celebrations will be held at Water Paradise tomorrow to cap off what Seshabela said had been a busy tourism month.

“The day’s activities will include a formal event where the Minister will launch a legacy project before people engage in a variety of water activities,” she said.

At the opening of Tourism Month on August 28, van Schalkwyk said: “As we proceed to the last leg of our tourism month activities in the province, we encourage all South Africans to take a short-left and have fun with water as they explore our beautiful country.”

For more http://www.thenewage.co.za